I need to burn a couple of vacation days and I thought I would step out for a beer. Anyone have a favorite place in Beirut? Elsewise I will end up at the Hilton and not see anything of the place.
I stayed at the Marble Tower in West Beirut. It’s about two blocks up from American University of Beirut. Decent, inexpensive place in a superb location. I haven’t been back in a number of years, but would stay there again… I need to get out of Europe for a bit so might pop over there too.
Dubai has gotten soooo expensive that I am looking for other places for a bit.
I would recommend the Commodore Hotel. It is in Hamra, several blocks south of the American University of Beirut. It is very nice, but not too expensive. They also have a decent sushi buffet in the evenings. Downtown is dead now, and Hamra has picked up a lot of the slack. IIRC, the Commodore is 2 blocks south of Hamra Street, so good location.
I miss Beirut. 
I am considering a job in Doha that would allow me to spend my summers in Beirut.
Lebanon-hotels.com has pages for both hotels:
http://www.lebanon-hotels.com/hotel/marble-tower/
http://www.lebanon-hotels.com/hotel/meridien-commodore/
My wife and I are spoiled, but through hard experience we have become convinced that it is a mistake to stay at a 3-star hotel in the Middle East. Each time we have done so, we have regretted it. If you are not such a stickler for things being nice, then it won’t be such a problem for you. But I’m just saying.
I am still kicking the idea around. The Hard ROck Cafe is in the Bayview.
That’s true. And you can walk around the corner and see where the Blessed Martyr Hariri ascended into Heaven. Besides, the HRC has good onion rings.
Does “vacation in Lebanon” not bring P.J. O’Rourke to mind for anyone else?
He recommends waterskiing- “Most of the snipers use automatic weapons and those aren’t very accurate”.
I just finished reading Agents of Innocence by David Ignatius. A well done, but kinda depressing spy thriller - think John Le Carre - set in Lebanon in the 60’s and 70’s. He describes a lot about Beirut - of course it is hugely dated at this point, but you get a sense for where the city has been and what it is like as well as the people.
Looks like the price difference is $40. If it is short stay, it is probably worth the $40. That said, the Marble Tower was recently renovated so it just depends what you like. Both seem to be good locations, but I tend to prefer 3 star places as all the 5 star places end up being a could-be-anywhere experience.
Do keep in mind that Saudi recently advised its citizens to avoid Lebanon… the situation there is always a bit, um… changeable. 
Yeah, the Colonel told I ought not to go. Further, I have friends in Bahrain.
I may split the difference and check myself into a clinic for one of those 24-hour heart monitor things.
Or Bahrain.
Or something else.
Paul, buy the Lonely Planet guide to Lebanon - lots of good recommendations for watering holes there. Also ask in the Lebanon forum on their site for recommendations.
If Beirut doesn’t work out, you could come to Bahrain and we could have a mini-Dopefest! Where’s Testy at these days???
Might be worth doing.
It would have to be more fun than the 24-hour heart monitor, at least.
That wouldn’t be hard!
Am I the only one finding irony in getting a beer in Beirut?
What wrong with getting a beer? Islam forbids alcohol, but the country is 30-40% Christian, and even then Muslim does not always equal teetotaler. Arak is from the area, and is popular in even more so Muslim countries.
I’ve been to Lebanon, but never as far north as Beirut. My dad spent a couple of months there, though, back in the summer of '82. I’ll ask, see if he has any reccomendations.
If you get to Beirut, let us know if you can still buy rose gold 8-piece puzzle rings there. and how much are they? I bought one on my first trip there for $45, but that was in 1965, before all the wars. I sold it 10 years ago for $90 after the strands became unmendable. Wish I’d kept it now with gold at $900+/oz. I’m still wearing my $25 4-piece one, though.
Don’t try to get to historic Baalbek these days.
